SEATTLE -- A major road work project will close lanes of Interstate 5 in Seattle for nearly three weeks this summer, Department of Transportation officials announced Wednesday.

Video: I-5 Set To Undergo Major Rehabilitation

Crews will pave more than a mile of northbound I-5 and fix bridge expansion joints between Spokane Street and Interstate 90, requiring "intense" I-5 closures in August, the WSDOT said.

Several northbound I-5 lanes will be closed at all times from Aug. 10 to Aug. 29, leaving only two or three lanes open to workday traffic.

"These closures have the potential to create unprecedented gridlock on freeways and city streets," said WSDOT Regional Administrator Lorena Eng.

The closures will cause significant delays and will have a substantial effect on West Seattle and south King County commuters and will push traffic onto other routes, including I-405, State Route 99, and city streets in Georgetown, SODO, Rainier Valley and Beacon Hill.

Details on the project are available on the WSDOT Web site.